Mark Twain Presents

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was widely lauded as The Great American Novel after its publication in 1884,” says Tennessee-based playwright, Mike Parker. “According to the Library of Congress, Huckleberry Finn was different from anything most Americans had ever read. Twain wrote dialogue for his characters that made them sound like real people. He didn’t make all his characters sound the same; instead they each had a unique voice. And Twain used accents and slang words to bring his characters to life.”

The original novel and Parker’s lively stage adaption follow the ragamuffin Huck Finn on his adventures down the mighty Mississippi River on a raft, which include helping his friend Jim, a runaway slave, gain his freedom, coming between feuding families, falling in with a pair of unscrupulous con men, and ultimately meeting up with his old friend, Tom Sawyer.

“A number of years ago I was commissioned to adapt The Adventures of Tom Sawyer specifically for Springhouse Theatre, and it was a delightful experience,” Parker recalls. “So, when the opportunity came to adapt The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for the stage, I jumped at the chance. However, Huck presented a number of challenges, including a deadly feud, the issue of slavery, and the pejorative language that is pervasive throughout the novel. My goal was to create a production that would be faithful to the original story, but still be accessible to a contemporary audience. With Mark Twain Presents The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I believe we have accomplished that goal.”

Springhouse Theatre Company, Rutherford County, Tennessee’s premier destination for live family theatrical entertainment, hosted the world premiere of Mark Twain Presents The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the summer of 2021. Based on Twain’s Great American Novel, the production is an authentic piece of Americana, a time-tested comedy/adventure with a special, contemporary relevance. The theatre produced a full-length video of the dress rehearsal, with the approval of WordCrafts Theatrical Press. Enjoy!